Recipe adapted from John Besh's My Family Table (Andrews McMeel Publishing; 2011). His fourth cookbook, Besh Big Easy (Andrews McMeel Publishing), is due out in September.

recipe

These delicate vegetarian meatballs are lighter in texture than standard meatballs, but full of flavor. For best results, form the meatballs and let them sit in the refrigerator overnight -- this helps them firm up and makes them much easier to sear.

recipe

recipe

recipe

Sauteed leek, celery, and carrot form a flavorful base; potatoes add heft; and Parmesan rind makes the broth luxurious and savory. But the real stars of the dish are asparagus, English peas, and sugar snap peas, each contributing seasonal flavor to every spoonful.